..Sculpture Space purchases, renovates Wiley St. house.

The Utica OD related the recent news about Sculpture Space's renovation of a two-story, cream-colored house on Wiley Street in West Utica.

But to Sculpture Space, the house represents the completion of a goal the organization began working toward seven years ago.

It also represents an investment in the community and an effort to make artists safe during their stay in Utica. Sculpture Space offers two-month residencies for artists from around the world.

For many years, the group rented apartments for its artists in residence, but Executive Director Sydney Waller said it was “very difficult to find somewhere that is close and safe and can accept four artists. The places we rent have been basic and adequate.”

Waller said Sculpture Space began the discussions about having its own residence in 2003. Officials considered building an artists’ residence on the Sculpture Space grounds on Gates Street or purchasing from Utica’s existing housing stock.

“We are a nonprofit with basic funds,” Waller said. “We approached the Community Foundation (of Herkimer & Oneida Counties), and they supported the purchase of the house with a $40,000 grant.”

The house, purchased in December 2009, is so close to the studio that the orange Sculpture Space sign is visible from its balcony.

When looking for a house, the proximity was one of the artists’ main concerns, Waller said.

“We don’t really want them crossing the city at 2 a.m.,” Waller said. “It’s a great loss of time. It does give them more exposure to possible mishaps.”

During the renovation process, “one of our artists was assaulted, which had never happened before,” Waller said.

A male artist was riding a bicycle from Sculpture Space to the artists’ apartment, which was off Whitesboro Street in West Utica, when men got out of a vehicle and attacked him, Waller said.

“The artist left. He had to leave his residency,” she said.

The renovation process, which cost “$75,000 in real money” – not including the donations of appliances, tile and fixtures – lasted nearly a year. The organization reached out to its regular donors and applied for a second grant from the Community Foundation.

In October, the first artists were able to move in.

The house currently is half full, with two residents occupying the upstairs apartments.

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